Making Your House A Home

Much of our blog reports on market conditions, local area lifestyle information, home improvements as well as Buyer and seller information. To frequently we fail to talk about just enjoying your home. We would like to underscore the importance of making a house a home. When we think about increasing curb appeal for sellers, what about for buyers to envision themselves in a home? What are some steps you can take to really envision your ideal home, and then start your search. It is a great time to buy over renting, and stabilizing housing costs is a great way to invest in your future.

Your Future Space

How do you take up space? This is more than an abstract concept. When you are envisioning your new home, where are the…

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When reading about real estate, it is important to remember that there never has been, will there ever be a national real estate market. All real estate markets are local. Supply and demand in real estate is dictated by what buyers are willing to pay and sellers accept, in a precise location. It is imperative to work with a highly experienced Realtor who can filter the national real estate noise to deliver local real estate insights. We would like to offer some reasons why it is important to debunk this national market myth for local Triangle area buyers and sellers.

Markets to Watch

A local market is influenced by a number of factors and does not exist in a vacuum. Job growth, population growth, housing affordability, proximity to desired…

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Changes to Credit Reporting and What it Means for 2023 Buyers

For many who are looking to buy a home, the variability in interest rates may have put a halt to your search. Some of our Buyer clients have concerns about obtaining financing, as a result of their credit scores as interest rates rise, they assume they won't qualify.

If you share these concerns, we have great news. There are big changes to how credit is being calculated and debts reported that may impact your ability to borrow, in major positive ways. Let's go over the five major changes to credit reporting in 2022 that impact your ability to borrow in 2023.


  1. The No Change Change. Credit scores stalled in 2022. Overall the average gain was 7 points, which takes scores back…

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Creative Ideas as Mortgage Rates Rise

The FED's effort to battle inflation, by increasing interest rates, can be very frustrating, confusing and difficult for home buyers to understand. Many consider the volatility of rates to mean that they should not buy a home now, or that it is too difficult to buy a home with conventional lending. It is true that conventional mortgage rates are much higher than they were just a year ago, however, it does not preclude you from purchasing. Homeowning has many benefits including emotional, stabilized housing costs, and the financial benefits of building equity that make it a smarter decision than renting. With mortgage rates predicted to continue to rise in 2023, we thought this would be a great time to discuss…

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The Emotional Benefits of Homeownership

Are you considering becoming a homeowner? Congratulations! This is one of the biggest financial decisions you can make. You will experience many benefits, including stable housing costs, and building equity, but one thing you may not have considered is the varied emotional benefits of homeownership. Let's outline the emotional benefits that becoming a homeowner holds.

 

Increased Financial Stability

Mortgages unlike rent are most commonly fixed; in other words your monthly payment will remain unchanged unlike rent which year after year continues to rise as shown in the chart below. Rental prices have been skyrocketing for years. Buying a home with a fixed-rate mortgage gives you the opportunity to…

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Avoiding the Rental Trap

Are you considering buying, but are wary of the market fluctuations, or are you a first-time buyer who is unsure of your investment future by buying in 2023 versus 2024? One of the biggest misconceptions and biggest miscommunications in market updates and real estate news is regarding renting vs home owning. Even with mortgage rates increasing if you're going to be living in one area for a minimum of 4-5 years; it is almost always better to own a home versus getting stuck renting. Let's explain why it is always better to own a home rather than rent.

Rising Rents

Over the past three decades, rents have consistently risen. Where rents are rising and continue to rise, it becomes harder to save for the recommended for a…

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Many metropoles in the US are undergoing big shifts in how we use and value space, or occupancy. Where we are working and living and what is more desirable for work, and for life, have changed pretty dramatically. Work at home? Work at work? Work at home some, work at work some? It can be confusing to understand how occupancy, the job market, and how people are working, relate to real estate values, especially when real estate values for local sellers and buyers depend on the "at the moment" value. We would like to share insights on the state of development and projections on the Raleigh Durham area and how rankings nationwide for livability can mean for 2023 sellers and buyers.

Frequently, we report on the job market in Raleigh Durham, and how…

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What's Ahead For Home Prices?

This fall has been a rocky one for financing. With the federal reserve continuing to raise interest rates, borrowers are facing more higher financing costs than in the past several years. We understand that there is a lot of uncertainty in today's market and wanted to share the latest perspectives from economists. Much of our content regarding market fluctuations discusses historic trends in housing and economics and we want to reinforce that when other sectors of the market are more volatile, it does not necessarily mean that housing suffers as well. Let's look at what the market is doing and what the experts are forecasting.

What goes up must come down

Interestingly and not necessarily very reassuring are…

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Living in a College Town

When you read this headline, a number of images from pop culture may be called to mind. Toga parties, football dramas, youth miraculously solving impossible equations, and student-priced menus at dives, but the reality of living in a college town, as a retiree or a family for example, is much different, and honestly better! The advantages of being in close proximity to some of the most elite higher education institutions on the East coast are varied; from the quality of continuum care for those aging in place to access to amazing local schools and staff, and finally stability of the real estate market. Let's explore what living in a college town, and The Research Triangle Park is like.

Higher Education in The Research…

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Your Guides to Buying or Selling a Home This Fall

If you are considering buying or selling a home this fall, you probably have a lot of questions. Mortgage rates have been rising, inflation concerns have some worried about investing in real estate, and rents continue to rise. For many waiting until they feel more comfortable with the market, may not an option. The reality in real estate and in life is that there really is no absolute perfect time to buy or sell. In real estate there's an old saying, "The best time to buy a home is right now or 20 years ago." Hindsight is always 20/20 and the best we really can do is educate ourselves with the necessary information so that we make a smart; informed decision. The great news is while it is still a…

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